Florida Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham has emerged as the top candidate for the same position with the Bengals after interviewing in Cincinnati Tuesday, a source confirmed to the Enquirer.

The Bengals have focused on Grantham, the source said, but as of early Wednesday Grantham had not yet made a decision to leave the Gators.

Grantham signed a three-year, $4.47 million deal with UF last year, making him the highest-paid assistant in the university's history, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The nation's 10th highest-paid college assistant in the country last year, Grantham is in line to make $1.49 million in 2019, per the contract.

The 52-year-old doesn't fit the original narrative of a former NFL head coach joining Zac Taylor's staff, following the ideal setup by the move Sean McVay made to hire Wade Phillips two years ago in Los Angeles.

But Grantham has a wealth of previous experience as a DC in the NFL and the college ranks. A former offensive lineman at Virginia Tech, Grantham led the Cleveland Browns defense from 2005-07 and served as a defensive line coach for stints with the Cowboys, Texans and Colts totaling 11 seasons.

Browns’ defensive rankings (points per game):

2005: No. 11, 18.8

2006: No. 22, 22.2

2007: No. 21, 23.9

Browns’ defensive rankings (yards allowed per game):

2005: No. 16, 316.8

2006: No. 27, 344.8

2007: No. 30, 359.6

No. 9: Todd Grantham, Florida defensive coordinator: $1,401,500. A former NFL assistant, he moved with Dan Mullen from Mississippi State after last season and is now at his third SEC school this decade. He also worked at Georgia from 2010 through 2013. Before Mississippi State, he was at Louisville, which paid him $1.3 million in 2015 and 2016.(Photo11: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports)

The majority of Grantham's coordinator experience has come in the Southeastern Conference.

He called the shots for the Georgia Bulldogs under Mark Richt from 2010-13 with two appearances in the SEC Championship game. He coached current Bengals safety Shawn Williams for three seasons at UGA.

Grantham left for Louisville and Bobby Petrino's staff from 2014-16 before joining coach Dan Mullen at Mississippi State and Florida.

Grantham’s total defensive rankings (nationally):

2010 - UGA: No. 23, 323 yards per game

2011 - UGA: No. 5, 277

2012 - UGA: No. 32, 357

2013 - UGA: No. 45, 376

2014 - Louisville: No. 6, 309

2015 - Louisville: No. 18, 333

2016 - Louisville: No. 14, 322

2017 - Mississippi State: No. 10, 306

2018 - Florida: No. 28, 343

Taylor has most of his offensive staff established. He'll call plays and will team with OC Brian Callahan and top-choice at OL coach in Jim Turner.

Defensive hires, though, have been slow to come by.

Secondary assistants Robert Livingston and Daronte Jones will remain from Marvin Lewis' staff.

Initially it was expected a former NFL head coach with a defensive coordinator background would be Taylor's choice. Jack Del Rio, Dom Capers and Dennis Allen were among the candidates that fit the profile. But none of them worked out, as Taylor is officially a week on the job and player free agency approaches.

Could Grantham be the experienced fit the Bengals seek?

Marquand Manuel, the former Falcons DC, and Aubrey Pleasant, an up-and-coming Rams assistant with connections to Taylor, were also considered to be in the running entering this week.